FROM THE KWHI NEWSROOM

“Outstanding! Outstanding! Outstanding!” That’s what Brenham School Supt. Sam Bell exclaimed after getting news today (Friday), that the district, as a whole, received an academic acceptable rating from the Texas Education Agency, while the High School, the Junior High School and the Middle School were recognized.

BISD SUPT. Sam Bell

Brenham Elementary and Krause Elementary were both rated exemplary but Alton, the first school in the district to attain the recognized status eight years ago, was rated academically unacceptable. Supt. Bell said this was puzzling to him and he will be working to find out why this happened.

The Brenham School District had five of its six campuses either recognized or exemplary. Last year the Texas Education Agency rated the district unacceptable because of the high school completion rate, saying that not enough students were completing high school in the four year period.

Bell said today that the schools in the district are all very, very good, and this report from the Texas Education Agency bears that out.

There were great successes in Burton as well. The TEA gave the district a recognized status and all of the schools were ranked recognized as well.

RADIOSTAR AT HOT NIGHTS, COOL TUNES

(JULY 30TH, 2010)

Last week’s Hot Nights, Cool Tunes took us back to the 1960s and the sounds of the British Invasion, this week’s edition Saturday night brings in the Austin-based band Radio Star, to take us up for a couple of decades with the sounds of the 80s.

Lead singer Billy Lucas says just expect to have a ‘really good time.’

RadioStar will perform Saturday night at Hot Nights,
Cool Tunes.

Saturday night’s concert on Brenham’s downtown square is the last of this year’s Hot Nights, Cool Tunes, Brenham Main Street’s series of street concerts and dances.

Once again, the concerts have been deemed a great success, drawing big crowds to the downtown area.

Radio Star is being sponsored by Heritage Texas Country Properties, Cathy Cole, Realtor, the College Station Medical Center/Brenham Clinic and Wells Fargo.

Once again, Brenham Main Street organizers are asking that you leave your coolers at home and buy your food and drinks from the Brenham Rotary Club. This keeps the concerts free and also funds many of Main Street’s projects such as the Toubin Park project. The funds are also used for scholarships, teacher awards and Faith Mission.

The music of Radio Star begins at about seven on Saturday night.

DRUG CHARGES LEAD INDICTMENTS

(JULY 30TH, 2010)

Drug offenses dominated this week’s indictments from the 21^st district court grand jury in Washington County.

The grand jury handed down 38 indictments in the session they held on Wednesday. Many of the defendants are facing multiple charges.

Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Whittington says 42-year old Thomas Luna Jr., was first arrested on October 30^th last year because he allegedly sold methamphetamines to an undercover law enforcement officer. He was arrested again on January third for the same offense during a traffic stop and yet again during another traffic stop on January 26^th.

Twenty-six year old Donald Wayne Garret of Brenham was also arrested during a traffic stop. He was stopped on January 29^th after Brenham police found what they believed was a small amount of cocaine.

There were even some possession of heroin indictments. Forty-one year old Craig Ross Coates of Houston was arrested on April 12^th for the possession of a small amount of heroin. He was also charged with possessing cocaine. Twenty-four year old Dna Nicole Burch of Houston was arrested for the possession of heroin during a March 2^nd arrest.

Twenty-four year old Christopher Lee Cruce was arrested on May 13^th for the possession of a small amount of cocaine.,

Errol Marcus Lewis of Brenham was arrested last October 6^th , also for the possession of cocaine.

Thirty-six year old Brian Keith Hall was arrested on December 9^th with an unusually large amount of marijuana. He was indicted for the delivery of marijuana.

Also indicted for delivering marijuana was Robert Lee Carter. The 22-year old Brenham man was found with over four ounces of marijuana,

Other indictments dealt with burglary of habitations and third offenses of driving while intoxicated.

NIGHT WORK TO BEGIN ON 290

(JULY 30TH, 2010)

Some night work will begin soon on highway 290 and state highway 36.

Contractors for the Texas Department of Transportation will be ‘micro surfacing U.S. 290 at night soon. Beginning on the night of August 9^th, this micro-surfacing work will include the cloverland sections of U.S. 290 and State Highway 36 intersections. They will then strt at the intersection of highway 36 and 290, the Wal-Mart area and continue south for one mile. This night time micro surfacing work will begin each night at eight pm and end at about five in the morning.

Micro surfacing is a thing surfacing layer to preserve the roadway, improve the ride quality, and improve wet weather traction of the roadway. Motorists who travel this area should expect some delays and obey all traffic control.

Ballou Construction of Salinas, Kansas has the $346,868 contract to perform this work. This project should take about two months to complete. TxDot and their contractor appreciate you patience during this project.

NAVASOTA TEACHER FREE FOR NOW

(JULY 30TH, 2010)

A former Navasota teacher who is charged with indecent exposure with a student is now out on bond awaiting his trial.

A district court judge lowered the bond for Roberto Andaverde to $10,000 even though prosecutors say he is a flight risk. Andaverde is from Mexico.

His bond had been $100,000.

Andaverde’s trial has been delayed for several months while prosecutors appeal a judge’s decision to keep part of the confession from the jury.

Last October, a student claimed the former elementary school teacher touched her in an in appropriate way.

BURGLARY SUSPECT HELD AT GUNPOINT

(JULY 29TH, 2010)

An alert neighbor held a burglary suspect at gunpoint Wednesday morning in Burton.

Washington County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene on Young Lane in Burton at about 9:22 am Wednesday. A man reported that a suspicious vehicle had stopped at a neighboring business and was attempting to break into the building. One of the neighbors chased the suspect vehicle, until he ran through a fence. That’s when a woman neighbor held the man at gunpoint until the deputies arrived. Forty-three year old Ronnie Lee Mathis was arrested for felony theft of copper and burglary of a building.

THREE TRACTORS STOLEN

(JULY 29TH, 2010)

Three tractors, reportedly valued at over $113,000 were reported stolen from a Washington County equipment company some time during a three day period over this past weekend.

Washington County Sheriff’s investigators are searching for the tractors, taken from Hi-Way Equipment Company on Highway 290 west of Brenham. Maurice Graeber of the company reported to deputies that the Case International Tractors were taken from the business some time during a period between five pm Saturday and Monday at 7:45am. The tractors were red in color, with four wheel drive. One was a model 95 and the other two were models 80.

SHERIFF JANKOWSKI ELECTED VICE-PRESIDENT OF SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION

(JULY 29TH, 2010)

Sheriff J.W. Jankowski has been elected First Vice-President of the Sheriff’s Association of Texas at their 132^nd Annual Training Conference held in Fort Worth. The conference began Sunday and ended Wednesday.

More than 1500 participants came to the event where they heard speakers, had opportunities for significant and timely training sessions, and visited more than 240 exhibits showcasing some of the latest technology in law enforcement.

Sheriff Jankowski has been the Sheriff of Washington County since January of 1993. He distinguishes himself in his county and throughout the state as he assumes this leadership role in the Sheriff’s Association in Texas.

The Sheriff’s of Texas began this annual training session in 1878.

OIL ACTIVITY UP IN LEE COUNTY

(JULY 29TH, 2010)

Oil activity is beginning to pick up once again in the Giddings Field as oilfield operators expand into some new areas of Lee County.

One of the hottest new fields in that county could turn out ot be the Eagle Ford Shale, a formation below the chalk that runs from East Texas down to South Texas. Leases in the area have been taken up at what is called a feverish pace in the past two years.

AUSTIN COUNTY PIPELINE RUPTURE

(JULY 28TH, 2010)

The 'all clear' has been given in Austin County as the natural gas pipeline rupture between Sealy, Bellville and Cat Springs on Millheim Road and County Road 949, has been contained. Austin County residents in that area were under a 'shelter in place' after a natural gas pipeline leak rupture on Millheim Road and County Road 949. The rupture caused a large area to be evacuated in that area. Some others were ordered to stay indoors, the shelter in place order caused a large area to be evacuated in that area in Austin County. A shelter in place means some are being evacuated while others are told to stay indoors, with their air conditioners off. People were being told not to start their cars because this could mean a spark to set off a fire.

Site of Austin County pipeline explosion. (ap photo)

Witnesses said they heard a loud ‘roaring’ sound during the rupture at about seven this morning Natural gas was ‘venting out’ of the area of the explosion but it has not ignited. The pipeline was shut off at about 8:40 Wednesday morning. Emergency crews and fire trucks are on the scene along with sheriff’s deputies. Deputies are telling people to stay out of the area called the situation ‘potentially very serious.’ Austin County Emergency Management Coordinator Ray Chislet says now that ‘we are getting a handle on it.’ Chislet says that while the gas pipeline has been shut off, there is still natural gas in the area.

COUNTY GETS GOOD AUDIT REPORT

(JULY 28TH, 2010)

The Washington County Commissioners went into budget workshops at the end of (Tuesday’s) meeting after getting a positive report on the county’s finances from accountant Lewis Crain of Rutledge, Crain and Company.

Crain told the Commissioners that the county, even in these tough economic times took in $600,000 more in revenue than they expected and spent $1.5 million less than budgeted.

Accountant Lewis Crain gave a positive report on
County finances.

Crain repeatedly expressed concern about the level of spending, or lack of it, in the Washington County Sheriff’s office. He was concerned that they did not have the full manpower and that would eventually cost the county more.

Crain said that the county has $32 million in assets over liabilities but that $20 million of that are roads and bridges, items the county would likely keep.

The County Commissioners will spend the next six to eight weeks in budget workshops to work out a spending plan for the upcoming year. Last year’s budget projected spending of $19 million with a 42 cent per one hundred dollar valuation tax rate. The County Commissioners are expected to pass a budget during their September 14^th meeting.

BURTON TANK FIRE CRISIS OVER

(JULY 28TH, 2010)

The potential crisis is over near Burton as the oil by-product tanks that caught fire Monday evening have burned out.

Washington County Emergency Coordinator Robert Smith says these tanks, containing oil and salt water, did not have much oil in them and it was apparent by mid-morning on Tuesday that the fire danger had diminished.

Four tanks for oil by-products caught fire early Monday evening after lightening apparently struck them. The fire produced a heavy black smoke that could have created a serious health danger for Burton area residents. The small town was put in a ‘sheltering’ status meaning residents needed to go indoors, close their windows, doors and shut off their air conditioners. The conditions improved rapidly and the order was lifted. No one was injured during the incident. The disposal tanks are owned by the Key Oil Corporation of Giddings.

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BLINN INCLUDED IN COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

(JULY 28TH, 2010)

The Washington County Commissioners included Blinn College into the Brazos Valley Wide Area Communications System at (Tuesday’s) meeting.

The new, digital law enforcement and emergency communications system already links Brenham, Washington County, Texas A&M, Bryan, College Station and Brazos County.

Blinn College will now join the system. Their part in the new system, expected to go on line at the end of August would cost them $4941 a year for the radios and their maintenance.

The entities had expected to have this digital system of communications online already but County Judge Dorothy Morgan said getting the system ready turned out to be more involved than first thought.

The federal government has mandated that emergency and law enforcement agencies switch to this new, digital narrow band communications system.

COUNTY GETS MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENTS

(JULY 28TH, 2010)

Washington County coffers were increased by $32,414 during (Tuesday’s) meeting of the county commissioners.

Michael Parks, the Assistant Executive Director of the Brazos Valley Council of Governments, presented the Commissioners with a check for Medicare reimbursements. Parks said this money comes from a special effort to help people acquire federal government assistance for medical care, thus saving the county money.

Michael Parks of the Brazos Valley Council of
Governments.

The program helps counties in the nine county region of the Brazos Valley Council of Governments. Counties would otherwise have to pay this money but this program acquires money from the federal government. The check presented at Tuesday’s meeting represented the savings Washington County had through these federal government reimbursements.

STUFF THE BUS

(JULY 28TH, 2010)

Mission Brenham wants you to ‘Stuff the Bus’ again. This is their effort to help poor, or low income families acquire school supplies for the upcoming school year.

Marcus Lawhon of Mission Brenham says that they are trying to prepare some 200 children can get those school supplies. He says Mission Brenham has helped these same young people this summer with the JAM, or Jesus and Me Program, that supplies them with lunches and recreational programs. Lawhon says now is the time to continue this work.

It's time to 'Stuff the Bus' again.

This year’s Stuff the Bus Campaign is Friday and Saturday from 9am to 7pm in the Wal Mart parking lot.

Crystal the Pistol will be there in the KWHI Country Cruiser.

LONG TIME CALDWELL MAYOR BERNARD RYCHLIK KILLED IN TRAFFIC COLLISION

(JULY 27TH, 2010)

Bernard Rychlik, the long time mayor of Caldwell, was killed Monday night in a traffic collision in Burleson County.

Reports from the Texas Department of Public Safety says that Bernard Rychlik was driving a 2003 Chevy Carry-All Van at 8:17 Monday night on state highway 36, about one tenth of a mile from County Road 107, in Burleson County when he made a sudden U-turn in front of a 1993 GMC pickup truck. The pickup truck then broadsided Rychlik’s vehicle.

Bernard Rychlik.

Rychlik was then taken to the St. Joseph’s Burleson County Hospital in Caldwell, where he died at 9:45 Monday night. The DPS reports that he was wearing a seat belt.

Calvin Wayne Strickland was the driver of the GMC pickup truck. He and his passenger Beth Norton were injured and were taken to the St. Joseph’s Regional Health Center in Bryan.

Rychlik, who was 71, had been mayor almost continuously beginning with his first election in the early 1990s. He was noted for his promotion of the annual Kolache Festival in Caldwell. He was also noted for his work to get power restored to Caldwell residents after Hurricane Ike. Although the storm did not affect Caldwell with any wind or rain damage, the city was without any electric power for over a week.

OIL BY PRODUCT TANKS EXPLODE NEAR BURTON

(JULY 27TH, 2010)

The sheltering order Burton residents was lifted Monday night after emergency crews determined it was now safe for residents in the town to open their windows, their doors and to run their air conditioners. All of Burton was put under the sheltering status and ordered to stay indoors, close all windows and doors and shut off their air conditioners Monday night after lightening struck storage tanks for oil production by-products, sparking a very large fire that produced heavy black oily smoke over the western Washington County town. Seven families near the site, about one mile west of Burton, off U.S. Highway 290 were evacuated.

The fire burned throughout Monday night after the
lightening strike.

Washington County Emergency Coordinator Robert Smith issued the order soon after the explosion. He explained that the fire, while it is contained, it is expected to burn throughout the night and this cause danger to the residents of Burton.

The oil by product storage tanks erupted in fire after
being struck by lightening.

Volunteer firefighters from the Burton Fire Department were joined by the Round Top Fire Department.

These four tanks are called a ‘salt water battery’ which are tanks that contain the by-product of oil production. These tanks are owned by the Key Oil Corporation.

One of the tanks has salt water, two of the tanks have saltwater and oil while the contents of one of the tanks is not known.

Washington County Emergency Coordinator
Robert Smith at the scene.

MAN ARRESTED AFTER DEMANDING MONEY

(JULY 27TH, 2010)

A Washington County man wanted ‘his ten dollars’ but ended up in the countyjail on two felony charges instead Sunday morning.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 2200 block of Old Navasota Road on a criminal mischief charge. They found 33-year old Matthew Thiel hiding in the brush along the side of the road at about ten in the morning. Tamika Dixon reported that Thiel had broken a back window of her home, asking for his ‘ten dollars’. He did not get the money. Thiel then allegedly assaulted her, went outside and grabbed a rock and broke out the rear window of Dixon’s car and then fled. Thiel was arrested and charged with burglary of a habitation, assault causing bodily injury, and criminal mischeif. Other charges are pending during this continuing investigation.

BRENHAM POLICE INVESTIGATE BURGLARIES

(JULY 27TH, 2010)

Brenham police are investigating two burglary cases in which little was stolen but plenty of damage was done.

Police answered the call at Cattleman’s Supply Saturday morning when a worker there discovered an apparent break in. Jean Luere discovered the burglary when she came into work at 8:15 in the morning. Several desks were rummaged through, and filing cabinets were open. An inventory has only been able to find that some gloves were taken and the burglary remains under investigation.

Police are also investigating the burglary of the Washington County Healthy Living Association in the 1200block of South Market.

Toy Kurtz of the Center reported to police at about midday Sunday that someone rummage through the building and a window had been broken. So far, it appears nothing was stolen.

CHAPPELL HILL WINERY DISPUTE RESOLVED

(JULY 27TH, 2010)

A controversy involving a Chappell Hill winery and the shooting of deer has apparently been averted after the owner decided not to go through with her plan.

Kay Palacios had applied and received a permit to eradicate deer by shooting them through the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife. Palacios says deer have been eating the grapes she grows to make her wine. She has now decided not to shoot deer but is open to suggestions on how to control the deer population. She said she has harvested 22 tons of grapes but if the deer had not consumed much of her product she would have had 31 tons.

CHAPPELL HILL FORUM HEARS ABOUT 290 PLANS

(JULY 26TH, 2010)

“Traffic is increasing but we can’t just keep laying down concrete,” so said Anikka Ayala Rogers, the Texas Department of Transportation spokesperson, to a forum on transportation issues in Chappell Hill, Saturday afternoon.

A sizable gathering came out to the Chappell Hill First Baptist Church for the Future Trends Planning Committee Forum on issues ranging from improvements to Highway 290, to a proposed Toll Road for Hempstead highway, to a commuter rail system.

Ms. Ayala-Rogers, says this work comes from $5 billion in general obligation bonds that Texas voters approved of in November 2007. Ayala-Rogers says the bids need to be let out by May of next year, for this work that begin in Houston and strongly affect Washington County.

Anikka Ayala-Rogers of TxDot reviews upcoming
road plans for 290 at the Future Trends Forum.

The proposed Hempstead Tollway would be constructed in the same area as the current Hempstead Road and consist of two managed lanes and two non-tolled frontage road lanes in each direction.

Other improvements would relieve the increasing congestion from Interstate 610/290 interchange, ranked as the 13^th most congested roadway segments in Texas. The total cost of this work is $4.6 billion and $2.3 billion is readily available.

The proposed commuter rail system, that would run through Washington County, is still raising concerns. Rogers says that TxDot has created a new rail division, and the plans have yet to be drawn up for it.

Others were concerned about a proposed bike trail in the Houston area of the project. One man complained that millions of dollars was being spent on a pathway for ‘the six people riding bikes to work.” Ms. Ayala-Rogers says that there was a sizable number of people who do take their bicycles to work, and they are vocal proponents for the project.

The work on these projects should begin next summer and will be finally complete in 2025.

COUNTY TO BEGIN BUDGET DISCUSSIONS

(JULY 26TH, 2010)

Retiring Washington County Judge Dorothy Morgan will begin working on the last budget of her twenty year tenure this week, and it appears, once again to be a very tough job.

The Washington County Commissioners begin several weeks of budget workshops Tuesday after they have a formal meeting with accountant Lewis Crain, of Rutledge, Crain and Company. Crain gives the annual audit of the county’s finances to the commissioners.

Then the budget talks begin. Last year, County Judge Dorothy Morgan said last year’s budget was ‘tough but the best we could do.’ The county spent $19.59 and kept the tax rate stayed the same at .42 cents per one hundred dollar valuation. Property values have declined in the past year and the question is whether the county can hold the line on property taxes.

The process should end on September 14^th when the Commissioners adopt the budget.

The County Commissioners will hear from all the county departments during the several weeks of budget discussions.

Judge Morgan has been the county judge since January of 1991. Now she is leaving the post saying this budget looks a lot like the first budget she had to deal with.

CITY AND COUNTY WORKING ON FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENTS

(JULY 26TH, 2010)

Brenham City fire officials and Washington County are piecing together a renewed agreement on fire coverage.

The officials from both entities are looking through a series of agreements between them.

Some of these agreements have been in effect for many years, others are no longer needed.

Retiring Washington County Judge Dorothy Morgan and Brenham City Manager Terry Roberts are working together on the agreements.

In many of these agreements, the county provides some funding for city services such as animal control and operation of the Nancy Carol Roberts Library, facilities that both city and county residents use.

In several agreements dealing with fire safety and coverage, the county contributes $5500 annually to the Brenham Fire Department operations, but city officials say the costs to provide fire service in areas immediately outside thecity limits and rescue operations services for wrecks in the entire county are much higher, at about $80,000.

City Manager Roberts says the city is looking at the direct costs related to making calls out in the county. Judge Morgan says the county wants to pay its fair share, but the rural fire departments must also be part of the discussion.

BNSF ATTORNEYS WANT SUIT DISMISSED

(JULY 26TH, 2010)

Attorneys for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad have asked District Court Judge Reva Towslee- Corbett to throw out a law suit brought by Joe Vittonel Jr., of Somerville because some of his expert witnesses have been disallowed.

The BNSF is being sued by a number of former workers saying the railroad tie plant in Somerville has been a hazard to their health.

Vittonel’s attorneys are asking Judge Corbett to reconsider previous ruling on striking those witnesses. Vittonel is alleging that a hazardous workplace and environmental exposures has caused him injury. He is one of dozens of plaintiffs locally suing the railroad and Koppers Incorporated, involving the Somerville Tie Treatment plant.

RABIES REPORTED IN WALLER COUNTY

(JULY 26TH, 2010)

There has been a confirmed case of rabies in Waller County. Waller County Sheriff’s deputies confirm that the Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed a positive test for rabies in the past week.

Sheriff R. Glenn Smith reported that the rabies test was performed on a small dog with positive results, confirming it was infected with rabies, typically identify with skunks. The dog may have been exposed to a skunk several months ago and recently became ill.

FAB FIVE AT HOT NIGHTS, COOL TUNES

(JULY 24TH, 2010)

The Houston area tribute band Fab Five took many of us on a wonderful trip back in time. For many of us at a certain age, the most exciting possession was one of those transistor radios where the disc jockey played the latest hits from the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Kinks and countless other bands from across the Atlantic.

The Fab Five at Hot Nights, Cool Tunes.

There were thousands out Saturday night on the downtown square wanting to take that trip during the fourth concert of the Brenham Main Street Hot Nights, Cool Tunes. The band played the very best sounds from those groups throughout the night.

This year’s edition of Hot Nights Cool Tunes concludes this Saturday night when Radio Star has the sounds of the 80s.

Saturday's Hot Nights, Cool Tunes concert brought
out another big crowd.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO GET AUDIT REPORT

(JULY 24TH, 2010)

A key element in putting together a budget for Washington County is the annual audit report on the county’s finances. Accountant Lewis Crain of Rutledge, Crain and Company will give the annual audit report when the county commissioners meet Tuesday morning. The commissioners are expected to approve the report after they receive it.

The County Commissioners are also expected to act on an interlocal agreement between Blinn College and the county for the use of the Brazos Valley Wide Area Communications System. This is a new, federally mandated emergency radio communications system that connects at least six county law enforcement and emergency agencies on a narrow band radio system. The system has been under development for at least two years. County Judge Dorothy Morgan says they had expected to have this new system operational already but the process of transition from the current system was more involved than what she and others thought.

Accountant Lewis Crain of Crain Rutledge and
Company, will give the audit report.

Judge Morgan says that Blinn College wants to join the system and needs to discuss the cost of joining the system. All emergency and law enforcement communications are federally mandated to be digital in two years.

The County Commissioners are also expected to act on a tax phase in for Diamond Manufacturing Company. The Brenham City Council has already granted this company the tax phase in but the county needs to follow suit. Diamond Manufacturing make peforated metal and plastic products and they plan to open a facility on Longwood Drive on land owned by the Economic Development Foundation.

The County Commissioners are also expected to authorize the Sheriff’s office to purchase a new vehicle under a state contract.

They are also expected to discuss a sealed bid proposal on awarding an oil and gas and mineral lease on some of the county owned property in Tom Green County. This would involve some 562 acres.

The Washington County Commissioners will meet Tuesday morning at nine at the courthouse annex at 100 North Park, across the street from the courthouse.

HARD TIME FOR VIOLATORS

(JULY 24TH, 2010)

Some hard time was handed out for burglaries and probation violations in this week’s session of the 21^st district court in Washington County.

Twenty-two year old Jason Dewayne Heard of Brenham was arrested on June 29^th of 2009 for breaking into a house with the intent to commit a sexual assault. Judge Reva Towslee-Corbett sentenced Heard to ten years in prison and fined him $3000 for this first degree felony conviction. He must also pay $250 for the DNA test.

Twenty-eight year old Shane Lee Vela was sentenced to five years in prison for a burglary of a house. He must also pay $2200 in restitution. The conviction also led to a probation revocation for Vela. Vela was on probation for two counts of forgery from April. Court reports say that Vela tested positive for cocaine use in June on two occasions after getting the probated sentence. He must also pay a $500 fine and pay $1200 in restitution.

A three year old burlgary conviction turned into a first degree felony when 20-year old Clay Walker Schumpert of Brenham came before Judge Corbett. Assistant District Attorney Ned Butler says that Schumpert was put on a deffered adjudication probation for engaging in organized criminal activity for a building burglary and subsequently stealing a firearm. He was place on probation for these offenses in November of 2007 but violated the probation by testing positive for marijuana use and failing to pay his court ordered monies. He must also pay a $1324 fine.

Fifty-eight year old Jose Roberto Flores had his probation revoked for a family violence incident from over nine years ago. Flores was put on probation in January of 2001 for an assault causing bodily injury on a family member. His violated the probation by being intoxicated during a may arrest. He also never took a batterer’s intention program. Judge Corbett sentenced him to two years in prison and ordered him to pay a fine of nearly $900.

Forty-six year old Kristofer Gerlach of Austin was arrested last August 11^th for possessing methamphetamines with the intent to deliver. He received ten years probation for this offense and was ordered to pay a $1500 fine. He must also perform 350 hours of community service and must attend a drug offender program.

Fifty-three year old Michael Jonathan Burkhart of Brenham received six years probation for tampering with physical evidence . He must also perform 200 hours of community service. He also pled guilty to possessing a small amount of cocaine during a June arrest. For that offense Burkhart was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay a thousand dollar fine.

Thirty-four year old Jarrette Jamiel Hill of Old Washington was sentenced to two years probation for a theft.. He must also pay $3700 in restitution and pay his court appointed attorney’s fees. The theft occurred in February of 2008.

Forty-seven year old Joel Scott Bailey of Belton was arrested two years ago for a third offense driving while intoxicated. Judge Corbett sentenced him to five years probation and fined him one thousand dollars. He must also attend a drug offender program.

MCCAUL WORKING TO RESTORE MANNED SPACE PROGRAM

(JULY 24TH, 2010)

U.S. Representative Michael McCaul, whose district includes Brenham and Washington County, but also includes some of Houston and many NASA workers, says the House Science and Technology Committee is passing an authorization bill for NASA that he says is a bipartisan stance against President Obama’s proposal to cut the agency’s manned space flight program.

Congressman Michael McCaul

McCaul says the broad support of the NASA legislation is ‘good news’ for the Johnson Space Center and for our national security interest.

McCaul says the nation has already invested $9 billion in the Constellation Program and he believes there is no reason to terminate it now, especially when it would cost an additional $2.5 billion just to shut the program down.

The Constellation Program includes development of spacecraft and booster vehicles to replace the Space Shuttle.

PROJECT BACKPACK

(JULY 24TH, 2010)

The new school year for the Brenham School district begins in one month and that means many families are struggling to find all the right school supplies.

A group of Brenham banks are once again, helping with Project Backpack.

Project Backpack is a charity sponsored by local banks. The banks collect school backpacks every year to give to students from needy families.’

Even though the project has grown steadily for the past eight years, going from collecting several dozen backpacks to several hundred, this year the drive will be scaled back begause the community response has been so big in the past.

Lee Gaskamp of the Bank of Brenham says they still have about 350 to 400 backpacks from last year. Those left over backpacks are adult-size and suitable only teens.

Project Backpack will be going on all through August. Those wishing to make a donation to the Project can do so at a participating bank in the area.

TEXAS TASK FORCE ONE BACK FROM DEPLOYMENT

(JULY 23RD, 2010)

The College Station-based Texas Task Force One and it s swiftwater and rescue teams were demobilized Wednesday from its seven day deployment in the Rio Grande Valley. The world renowned rescue team had been in the Valley, working in coordination with local jurisdiction to conduct assessments of flooded areas and were also able to assist with the coordination of Texas Military Forces Helicopters that dropped large sandbags to divert the flow of flood waters.

Members of the task force arrived in College Station by mid-afternoon Wednesday then departed for their home jurisdictions. The deployment was a combined effort that included two Task Force rescue teams with the Texas Military Forces.

The rest for the Task Force may be short-lived. Tropical Storm Bonnie is expected to track towards the Gulf of Mexico, and near the area of the BP Oil Spill. The Task Force specializes in rescues in emergencies.

TROPICAL STORM BONNIE TAKING TEXAS TRACK

(JULY 23RD, 2010)

Tropical Storm Bonnie could be heading for the Gulf Coast but it is still a long way from Texas. The track of the storm could take it near the clean up efforts of the BP Oil Spill. Crews will have to leave the spill site and keep the rig plugged while the storm approaches.

Southeast Texas is in the storm’s five-day track. It’s predicted to go vover the southern tip of Florida and northern Cuba, enter the Gulf of Mexico and then take aim at the Southeast Texas and Louisiana area.

The National Hurricane Center predicts the storm will make landfall in the Beaumont area on Monday.

FAMILY VIOLENCE INDICTMENT

(JULY 23RD, 2010)

A violent family incident in Austin County has led to the indictment of 23-year old man in this week’s session of the 155^th District Court grand jury. Joshua Davis is facing charges of assault against a family member, and assault family violence for an incident that allegedly happened on June 24^th. Davis was one of eight people indicted in this week’s session of the Austin County grand jury.

Three people are under indictment for theft. Eighteen year old Adrian Martinez has been indicted for evading arrest in a motor vehicle for an incident that happened on June 27^th. Twenty-five year old Rafael Porras Salinas was arrested on July 2^nd for the possession of a controlled substance and has now been indicted for that charge.

Twenty-year old Julian Lamar Rivers is facing a theft indictment for an incident for the fraudulent use and possession of identifying information.\

Thirty-three year old Jerrett Lamone Harris was indicted for the delivery of a controlled substance.

FAB FIVE COMING TO HOT NIGHTS, COOL TUNES

(JULY 23RD, 2010)

Anyone who can remember listening to the radio some forty plus years ago know how exciting and fun it was to hear the Beatles, the Stones and the British Invasion sounds of the 1960s.

Those sounds are returning to downtown Brenham Saturday night during this week’s edition of Brenham Main Street’s Hot Nights, Cool Tunes when the Fab Five perform. Tracie Pyle of Brenham Main Street says that you can hear the sounds of the sixties from a really great band from the Houston area.

The Fab Five will bring back the sounds of the British Invasion and
the 60s during Saturday's Hot Nights, Cool Tunes.

This the fourth of a series of five summer concerts in downtown Brenham. Pyle says the concerts have been great successes, drawing big crowds to the downtown area. This concert, like all the others, will begin at about seven pm, Saturday night.

Pyle asks once again, that you leave your coolers at home, and get your food and drink from the food booths of the Brenham Rotary Club. This helps local charities and keeps these concerts free.

This week’s sponsors are Seidel, Schroeder and Company, Brenham National Bank and Donald Spiess—Germania Insurance.

CHAMBER PLANS TAILGATE PARTY

(JULY 23RD, 2010)

The Washington County Chamber of Commerce is preparing for another Tailgate Party next month.

This has been the Chamber’s fundraiser for the past three years. It will be Thursday, August 26^th at the parking lot of the Fireman’s Training Center.

Brice Milliron is the Tailgate Event Chair. He says they are still looking for businesses to provide prizes, saying this is a great way to promote your business at a highly visible event.

Millirorn believes at least 600 people will come out this event. If you or your business want to take part call the chamber at 836 3695 or fax in your donation at 836 2540.

DOWNTOWN FIRE ACCIDENTAL

(JULY 22ND, 2010)

One week ago, during the very early morning hours, the General Production Company in downtown Brenham was engulfed in flames. The damage was so thorough and complete, fire investigators could not get into the structure at South Market and Alamo to see why the fire started.

Nothing is left of the building now. It has been demolished. Brenham Fire Marshal Alan Finke said yesterday that all indications poiint to the fire being an accident. He couldn’t go any further because the structure had to be torn down. Finke says the actual cause of the fire may never be known.

BRENHAM CITY TAXES HOLDING STEADY

(JULY 22ND, 2010)

Property taxes for city of Brenham will not be going up this year. So says, City Manager Terry Roberts after the city council concluded three days of budget workshops Wednesday.

Roberts says that after much discussion the Council made the decision to leave the tax rate the same level as last year. That rate is 50.42 cents per one hundred dollar valuation. This will mean the city will take in less revenue because property values have declined in the city over the past year.

The proposed budget will include funding for the Highway 290 project, which is expected come online in the early part of next year. Roberts says the budget originally included a 1.5 cent tax increase to cover 60percent of the $250,000 in funding needed each year for the project, but the Council made the decision to use reserves for the first year.

The new budget has no tax increase.

Roberts says that, with the decrease in property values, it means about a $90,000 loss in revenues to the general government operations. The Council, according to Roberts believes that the economic conditions did not lend itself to a tax increase this year. Roberts said the city is still in very good financial condition.

The budget also includes about a half a million dollars in decision packages, which are being funded through savings in the current year’s budget.

Once again, Roberts praised the city staff for holding the line on spending.

Roberts also said that they are looking at the second phase of a street overlay project that is expected to cost $200,000 in addition to the regular maintenance work the street department does annually. \

The Brenham City Council will vote on the budget in September, before the end of the fiscal year.

200 ANIMALS SEIZED IN GRIMES COUNTY

(JULY 22ND, 2010)

Grimes County Sheriff’s deputies seized over two hundred animals Wednesday from a property near Carlos. Grimes County Sheriff Don Sowell said there were 105 malnourished horses and forty dogs on the property.

Grimes County Sheriff Don Sowell says the miniature horses and and dogs were seized and are being taken to an animal shelter in Houston. The sheriff says the 13 acre property in the northern end of the county had been under surveillance for about a week after the SPCA received reports about the animal neglect.

Sowell says this was a voluntary seizure from the owner, whom he says did not realize they had taken on more animals than they could take care of. Sheriff Sowell says the owner will be allowed to keep some animals to see if they can handle them properly. Sowell says the property owner is not facing animal cruelty charges.

NO CUTBACKS AT WASHINGTON COUNTY AGRI-LIFE EXTENSION OFFICE

(JULY 22ND, 2010)

Washington County’s Agri-Life Extension Office was not impacted by the cutbacks in the office statewide.

Darrell Dromgoole of the College Station office said the Washington County office was ‘very active and very effective.’ Dromgoole said however, that other very effective extension offices had to lose some officers and said that personnel is the only real way to cutback.

All state agencies have been ordered to cutback in spending by five percent.

The Agri-Life Extension Service has completed the difficult task of notifying employees whose jobs will end on October 31^st.

The personnel cutback affects 94 jobs—31 vacant positions that will not be filled and 63 occupied positions that will be eliminated agencywide. The downsizing results from the five percent state budget reductions.

Leaders of the state agency, which has offices in 250 Texas counties, said their decisions were based on maintaining core programs statewide.

Dromgoole said that counties currently being served by a single extension agent or through a shared position will not be impacted by the new staffing plan. Dromgoole who is the Agri-Life associate director for county programs says they looked most closely at counties where there were three or more positions, especially if more than one employee supported the same subject matter.

Dromgoole said all county Extension personnel contribute to Four- H, Agri-Life Extension youth programs and share full responsibility for the program when needed.

TWO AUTO BURGLARIES

(JULY 22ND, 2010)

Brenham police are investigating two motor vehicle burglary cases that happened a week a part.

A woman parked her PT Cruiser at the Elks Lodge Tuesday afternoon. She failed to lock her car and the sight of her purse was too much for one theif. The purse and contents were stolen.

An expensive truck burglary happened one week ago, on July 13^th. Billy Joe Jasinski had parked his Dodge pickup truck at Blue Bell Creameries. There was a self-propelled mower in the bed and someone stole it. The estimated value of the mower was $530. The case is being investigated.

BLINN COLLEGE READIES BUDGET

(JULY 21ST, 2010)

The Blinn College Board is expected to adopt a budget next month that spends just as much as they take in revenues.

Dr. Van Miller, Blinn College’s Vice-President for Administrative Services told the board at Tuesday night’s meeting that after making adjustments for salaries and dealing with other contingencies, the college will spend $76,047,655 while taking in the same amount in revenues. Dr. Miller and the Board does not anticipate a property tax increase.

Blinn College Van Miller outlines the budget for the
Blinn Board.

The Board is expected to hold a hearing on the budget at a meeting on Wednesday, August 18^th. At that meeting they would hold a public hearing on the budget, adopt the budget, and set a tax rate that, if that rate does not exceed the current rate. If the Board intends to raise the tax rate, which is just over five cents per one hundred dollar valuation, they would meet on Tuesday, August 17^th, their next regular meeting. If that is necessary they would announce the intent to set a tax rate and announce the dates for the two required hearings and vote on the rate.

Then, once again, only if there is a propose raise in the tax rate, they will hold hearings on September 7^th and September 14^th and vote on the tax rate on September 21^st.

The budget includes a three percent increase in salaries for all faculty and staff of Blinn College. This means faculty salaries will be just over $25 million, while staff salaries will be $15.9 million. The benefits would cost the college $11.4 million. The salaries and benefits constitute 69.1 percent of the spending in the budget.

Dr. Miller said there was a contingency fund of $184,000 that will be used to balance the budget.

State appropriations, at $22.3 million or 29.3 percent of the budget, tuition and fees are $37.5 million, or 49.4 percent of the budget. The property taxes account for $1.4 million, or 1.8 percent of the budget.

Blinn President Dr. Dan Holt says he expects enrollment to up again this year and that will help with revenues.

Also at last night’s meeting, the Board appointed a new campus provost for the Bryan campus. They appointed Dr. Ted Raspiller during the regular board meeting.

WASHINGTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE RENOVATIONS

(JULY 21ST, 2010)

Some familiar sights at the Washington County Courthouse will not be so familiar, soon, after Tuesday’s meeting of the county commissioners.

The Commissioners approved a renovation plan that will greatly alter thelook of the county commissioners courtroom, put in a file system, add a computer server room, and elections room.

Architect Charles Keese, and his designer wife Nelda, presented the plans to the commissioners, showing the changes. Keese says they need to begin the work next week.

Architect Charles Keese and designer wife, Nelda
display courthouse renovation plans.

The new computer server room and the new file system will be place where the treasurer’s office had been for most of the life of the 1939 Courthouse. Keese says the file system is so heavy that it needs to be placed on the first floor of the courthouse.

County Judge Dorothy Morgan said that there was $155,000 left over from the $1.2 million courthouse annex project that will go towards this renovation project. Keese says the total amount should cost about $240,000. Keese says there are numerous restrictions on how this renovation work is being done due to regulations from the Texas Historical Commission.

The work should be done in about 60 days. Judge Morgan told county workers and the commissioners that she will not hear any complaints about how noisy the courthouse is. The work needs to be done quickly because early voting begins October 12^th for the November election.

COUNTY HEALTH CENTER OPENING

(JULY 21ST, 2010)

Faith Mission Executive Director J.D. Young says personnel from two offices are already moving into the Washington County Health and Human Services Center at the one-time Brenham Police Station.

Young says the move in for the Medical Asssistance Program and the office for Women, Infants and Children, or WIC Program began during the weekend.

Young says the Faith Mission/Scott and White Clinic for people without health insurance and under certain income guidelines, should be operational within the next wee or so.

The Clinic, and Service Center is a joint effort between Washington County, the Scott and White (Trinity) Health Center, and Faith Mission.

The Center was going to be at the Faith Mission Help Center at 314 East Alamo but many expressed concerns about that location being too close to downtown.

The County received a $235,000 grant from the state to help with the renovation of the building. That amounts to roughly half of the cost of the renovations.

The Brenham Police Department moved out of the building nearly five years ago due to heavy mold infestations.

FUTURE TRENDS PLANNING FORUM SATURDAY

(JULY 21ST, 2010)

The Future Trends Planning Committee of the Chappell Hill Chamber of Commerce is planning yet another forum concerning transportation issues facing the community this Saturday.

This time the Texas Department of Transportation U.S. 290 Public Information Officer Anikka Ayala-Rogers will present the current TxDot plans for U.S. 290 including the Hempstead Tollway, U.S. 290 expansion, the TxDot Interface with the Commuter Rail Corridor and the status of the Loop 577 in Brenham.

This forum will be at the Chappell Hill First Baptist Church at 9120 Poplar Street in Chappell. The time of the Forum is five pm.